[04] Chair and Functionalism

During the studio class, I was making a small concept cup model which had to show the image of "hot" by itself. At first, I put all the components that symbolize hot; hot coil, fire, and so on. And then I started to think about function. The handle had to be longer to protect the user's hand. The material of a cup should have prevent the heat passing the cup. After all, this hot cup was basically having a form that follows the "function."

I am using this principle "form follows function" in every design process, and pretty sure that I will keep using this one. It is a simple but clever principle for an industrial designer. However, will it bring a success to the product all the time? Today, as an industrial market is becoming more competitive, there are more expectations to products. It should be functional and simple with little ornament, however, should have more emotional, cultural components to appeal people. In sum, with a prospective of industrial designer, I think a successful product should consider both the spirit of Bauhaus and the sense of emotion.

1. ARTS AND CRAFT MOVEMENT & THEBES STOOL
Artist and social reformer William Morris believed that simplicity and fine craftsmanship were not possible in furniture made by machine. Their belief that good design should be essentially simple and available to all, regardless of social standing, became an important modern principle.

THEBES STOOL,1884
Designer: Leonard F.Wyburd,
Style:Arts and Crafts Movement,

Leonard F. Wyburd was the head of the Furnishings and Decoration Department at Liberty & Company, with shops throughout England. It exported furnishings, fabrics, and accessories created by Arts & Crafts designers. The Thebes stool is made of walnut, mahogany, or oak, with a concaving leather seat.

2. EARLY MODERNISM IN THE US & PURKENSDORF CHAIR

Morris's desire for well-crafted simplicity as well as interest in the medieval past had enormous influence. American Architects, Frank Lloyd Wright, George Washington Masher, and George Grant Elmslie, created furnishing that are considered as the first original designs America produced.

OFFICE CHAIR,1904
Designer: Frank Lloyd Wright,
Country: United States

In 1904, Wright introduced advanced office chair constructed of metal with oak seats for the Larkin Company administration building in Buffalo. Although in sympathy with William Morris's ideas about simplicity and fine craftmanship, Wright believed the use of machine was vital for executing the pieces.

3. VIENNA SECESSION & PURKENSDORF CHAIR
Earlier in 1892 in Munich, in 1898 in Vienna, protesting groups of young designers and artists, including Josef Hoffmann and Otto Wagner were together referred to as the Secession. They worked first in Jugenstil, and later their style evolved in a more geometric and structural direction.

PURKENSDORF CHAIR,1902
Designer: KOLOMAN MOSER,
Style:Vienna secession,
Country:Austria.

An early modern work of extreme simplicity often attributed to Josef Hoffmann. Intended to be part of a totally washable world, the wooden frames of the chair and the table that complements or have a white high-gloss finish.

4. MODERNISM IN HOLLAND & BERLIN CHAIR

In Holland, a radical art and design organization, named De Stijl, was founded by Theo van Doesburg. The group focused on spatial problems, adopting the Japanese quality of sophistication, using straight lines and right angle and smooth, shiny surfaces. Their goal was to achieve harmony and balance in the home by limiting themselves to simple element.

BERLIN CHAIR,1923
Designer: Gerrit Rietveld,
Style: De Stijl,
Country:The Netherlands.

The simply constructed deal wood Berlin Chair, lacquered white, light and dark gray, and black, was created for the Berlin Exhibition. It was one of the world's first asymmetrical seating units.

5. BAUHAUS & CESCA CHAIR

Like William Morris, Bauhaus designers believed that their mission lay in improving society by making the environment harmonious and well-crafted. However, Bauhaus designers had nothing against the machine. They bring industry together with art in order to create prototype for mass production, and they saw the need to develop new techniques and materials to make this possible. Bauhaus adopted the principle "form follows function " because it's concern for simplicity,comfort and edification.

CESCA CHAIR,1928

Designer: Marcel Breuer,
Style: Bauhaus,
Country:Germany.

Known popularly as the Breuner chair, Cesca was originally made from a single length of steel tubing with a seat made of ebony-stained bentwood and caning, but now many variations are available. The wood can be dark or natural finish oak or beech: the armchair can have wood or upholstered armrest.